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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

GCSE question

19 replies

sue52 · 22/09/2010 15:31

Are target grades usually the same as predicted grades? DD having a major meltdown as she has been given a B as a target for RE.

OP posts:

mnistooaddictive · 22/09/2010 16:09

No, target grade is what you are aiming for, predicted grade is what you are expected to get. Depending on circumstances predicted can be higher lower. What is her worry - is it too high or too low? Targets are usually done by calculation based on KS3 data sometimes with additional info - it is a mathematical process with no regard for individuals. Predicted is done by teacher maybe based on exam results and coursework grades, classwork, homework and a 'gut' feel!

Butterbur · 22/09/2010 16:13

Ds's school predicts low IME. I suppose it doesn't do to predict too high, or Dc will just coast along, thinking they don't have to do any work.

Original poster

sue52 · 22/09/2010 16:44

DD is taking the short course GCSE. All her other target grades are A*/A and to her a B messes up her score sheet. This sounds ridiculous but she's too upset to compare her target grade with her friends. Does anyone know if she can drop the exam? I know it's a minor thing but DD is getting in a state about it.

OP posts:

webwiz · 22/09/2010 17:01

Is she year 10 or 11? DD2 had a rogue B in her predictions at the start of year 10 - it was for Maths and we still haven't worked out where it came from, the Maths teacher thought it was something to do with KS2 SATs. I spoke to the teacher as DD2 was a bit upset especially as Maths was her best subject. In the end she got an A* (and now has As in her AS Maths and Further Maths).

I'd just ask the teacher what its based on but it is ridiculous not to take an exam because of a B grade target. They are just targets not what you actually get.

Original poster

sue52 · 22/09/2010 17:06

Thanks webwiz. She is in year 10. It is ridiculous to drop the exam but it is only a half GCSE and not worth the stress it seems to causing DD.

OP posts:

PixieOnaLeaf · 22/09/2010 17:14

This reply has been deleted

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webwiz · 22/09/2010 17:15

She will calm down! Just say you'll talk to the teacher and leave it at that for now. If she has A*/A predictions across the board then there is something different being considered for RE. If she can get A's in English then she can in RE.

scaryteacher · 22/09/2010 17:30

there is no point giving a target grade really in Year 10 as they haven't done half the syllabus yet.

I used the Year 11 mocks for my predictions, and I was usually pretty accurate, and you could see how much they'd improved from the year 10 exams.

There is a correlation between English and RE grades. perhaps her behaviour or classwork is not as good in RE as it is elsewhere? I would perhaps predict a B for putting rocket up arse effect with certain students.

Docbunches · 22/09/2010 17:30

I agree with the others.

My DS in Y11 has a rogue prediction of A in Geography. Unfortunately, in his case, it's too high and his teacher agrees.

I don't know which is worse to be honest (too high or too low).

I can see why your DD would be upset but she needs to prove them wrong and get an A/A*, it's definitely not a good reason to drop the exam. At my DCs' school there's no chance of dropping RE because it's compulsory.

Kez100 · 22/09/2010 18:31

I think she needs to stop being a princess. She is clearly a very bright girl and I am sure she works hard too. Dropping something because you are less than perfect is not an attitude for the future - rise to the challenge and show them what you are capable of! I am sure she is quite capable of doing so!

I had a D grade mock and a refusal of my school to let me take O level and made me do CSE. My parents paid for me to double enter and I worked my socks off - and got a Grade A O level. That achievement has stayed with me all my life and I am not afraid to rise to challenges which life throws at me.

I suspect she will calm down but, even if she doesn't, her target Grade is respectable and, if she were my daughter, I'd be encouraging her to do her very best to knock the B into a cocked hat!

Original poster

sue52 · 22/09/2010 19:06

I see where you all are coming from, so I thought I'd give a bit of background. DD has an eating disorder which she is struggling to keep in check. It stems from the need to be perfect in all things. For her this could trigger a relapse into rigid food control. For most DCs I would recommend they just worked a bit harder for that A but I can't do that with DD.

OP posts:

Vespasian · 22/09/2010 19:12

Many of the target grades given out at the start of GCSE's work on academic profiles. So another student with your dd's academic history is likely to achieve a B. The accuracy of this method is threatened by the fact that SATS are not being taken at many schools - they used to feed the data.

Sometimes these targets are accurate and sometimes they are way out. As the teacher gets to know her better she can give your dd an idea of how she is performing. Many schools report performance grades every half term.

amothersplaceisinthewrong · 22/09/2010 19:20

I definitely would not suggest she drops it. No one can be perfect at everything, and anyway a grade B is fine. Surely suggesting she drops it is kind of letting her blackmail you with the food issue.

TheFallenMadonna · 22/09/2010 19:21

You need to speak to the teacher and find out how they got the grade. We have no say in our KS4 target grades - we use FFT targets which are calculated for us. Most are reasonable, some clearly aren't. We as teachers are judged against them. You and your dd need to talk tot he teacher and ask her/him what (s)he thinks your dd will actually get if she works.

Kez100 · 22/09/2010 21:56

I would think if she has counselling they should help her deal with this. I very much feel for her but my gut feeling is that dropping it would just pander to her inability to accept imperfection. I only feel this because perfection doesn't exist and I hope you all manage the situation so she can see and accept that.

I apologise in the circumstances for calling her a princess and hope you can accept my apology.

Original poster

sue52 · 23/09/2010 10:11

Kez100 no need to apologise, you speak a lot of sense. She is seeing a therapist. I have made an appointment with her head of year to explain my worries and to see if can get some extra tuition. I really don't think tuition is necessary, it might however calm DD down a bit.

OP posts:

cory · 23/09/2010 10:33

I can feel your pain, as my dd also has severe anxiety and was selfharming last winter, so not looking forward to start of GCSEs. But Kez probably has a point: I am a little wary of letting dd stop things if they are less than perfect, as I think that could just be reinforcing the idea that things have to be just so. But it's a difficult balance. I'd have a quiet word in the ear of her counsellor.

Original poster

sue52 · 23/09/2010 12:14

Cory So sorry to hear about your DD. I hope things improve for you both.

OP posts:

loopyloops · 23/09/2010 12:21

I echo what TheFallenMadonna says. Often FFt or a similar system is used to electronically generate target grades, based on KS3 scores and previous intakes. It has very little bearing on how she will perform.

I have had A*candidates receive Cs as targets. Don't let it stress either of you out, it really is an exercise in guesswork.

If it helps at all, I was predicted D for German when I took my GCSEs (this was actual prediction, not target) and got an A*.

A B is a really good grade anyway, especially in a course that she probably won't see as her priority.

I understand that she is fragile, but expecting to be the best at everything isn't going to help her later in life. She might really struggle with A levels, and could probably do with a more balanced view before she gets there.

Good luck. :)

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